The Pittsburgh Steelers have been on the wrong end of several ESPN offseason rankings. With training camp approaching, ESPN identified the players on every NFL team who would still be worthy of a first-round pick. Many of the players selected were originally first-round picks, but the Steelers had six players make the list, including one of the rising cornerstones of their defense: Joey Porter Jr.
“Porter's the one player off the line of scrimmage here, and I can see Steelers fans wanting more. He was essentially a first-round pick, having been selected with the 32nd pick in a year when the Dolphins forfeited their first-rounder. And Porter has been excellent over his first three seasons, notably while allowing a 57.2 passer rating in coverage last season. The Steelers don't seem close to a new deal with their top cornerback, though, and as a second-round pick, Porter is only one year away from unrestricted free agency. Teams might want to wait and see if they can land Porter for free on the open market in 12 months.” ESPN detailed.
The others listed were Keeanu Benton, Troy Fautanu, Zach Frazier, Derrick Harmon, and Nick Herbig. However, this highlight of Porter reinforces that the Steelers need to keep him in Pittsburgh. It is a massive priority.
Steelers must lock Porter into a long-term deal
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Porter has quickly become the cornerstone of Pittsburgh's defense. His ability to shut down opposing receivers gives the Steelers something they have lacked for years. The 2025 season marked his true breakout, as everything came together in his third year. He has not allowed a touchdown in coverage over the past two seasons and ranked number 33 in Pro Football Network's Top 100 Players of 2026. His next contract will be expensive, but he has more than earned a significant payday.
Porter also appears prepared to hold in during training camp and the preseason if negotiations continue to stall. While reports indicate the Steelers and Porter are not close to an extension, there is still plenty of reason to believe they will eventually reach an agreement. The organization has rewarded its top talent before, signing T.J. Watt to two lucrative extensions while also taking care of other cornerstone players. Even if the two sides cannot reach a deal this offseason, Porter is unlikely to reach unrestricted free agency in 2027, despite ESPN's suggestion.
Expect Porter to receive the franchise tag if necessary
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If the Steelers cannot finalize an extension before the start of the season, franchising Porter next offseason becomes the most likely outcome. The organization has not used the franchise tag since 2017, when it tagged Le'Veon Bell. Porter could choose to follow Bell's 2017 approach by holding out until he either signs a new contract or the regular season begins, adding even more urgency to negotiations before next July's deadline.
Ultimately, it is difficult to envision the Steelers allowing Porter to hit the open market in 2027. In fact, it seems more likely that the two sides resolve the situation before the regular season begins. Porter may decide to hold in during training camp until an agreement is reached, but Pittsburgh has every incentive to complete a deal as soon as possible. At this point, Porter's value exceeds that of a first-round pick. He projects as a long-term leader and foundational piece of the defense, and the Steelers should structure his next contract accordingly.
